Her Return, His Regret

Chapter 44- Found a way

Ryan stepped into the private room at the restaurant and frowned at the unexpected crowd seated around the table.

He glanced at his father, Miles Kingsley, with a questioning gaze. "What's this, Dad? You said you wanted to meet me for lunch to discuss something. What's with the crowd?"

Miles stared at his son and pointed at the seat opposite him. He replied, "Take a seat son. We are all here to discuss your engagement ceremony with Ivy."

Ryan clenched his hands into fists and his jaw clenched as anger bubbled up within him. It seemed his father had tricked him into a meeting with the least people he wanted to see. Ivy sat next to the empty chair that was meant for Ryan while his stepmother and stepsister sat next to his father.

He furrowed his eyebrows and said firmly. "I can't discuss the ceremony without my grandfather." Hearing that, Miles couldn't help but get angry. He looked like a pressure cooker that was about to explode as he questioned, "Son, do you undermine my authority because my father didn't give me the company to run? You might be his successor but I'm your father! You must obey me!"

Ryan glanced at his father and replied coldly, "I undermine you because of the witch you brought into our lives. I'm sorry, Dad. But as long as you have that woman whispering in your ears, there's nothing that you can say to change our relationship." "Ryan! Your grandfather spoiled you a lot! Celeste is my wife and you will respect her!" Miles hissed.

Ryan glared at his father and left the room without sparing Ivy a glance. When Ivy saw Ryan leaving, panic crept into her.

She wheeled herself after him, calling, "Ryan, wait!"

At the same time, in the private room, Celeste placed her hand on Miles' arm before saying, "I'm sorry I brought a rift between you and your son, Darling."

Miles sighed, his eyebrows creasing. He remarked, "I don't know what happened to him. He used to be such a good kid when his mother was alive. Where did I go wrong?"

Something flashed through Celeste's eyes but she hid it quickly. She smiled at Miles and remarked, "Don't blame yourself, Darling. I'm so sorry you don't get along with your only son... if only you had another son, you wouldn't need to pressure Ryan and the two of you would still have a good relationship."Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

Miles looked at his wife and nodded. He said, "It's a pity my only son doesn't listen to me... it's like I'm useless to him." Celeste stroked Miles' arm and comforted, "Don't feel sad, Darling. I'm sure Ryan will come around." Meanwhile, Ivy kept going after Ryan.

Ryan was about to enter his car when Ivy called out to him again, "Ryan, please wait! Please don't leave like this."

Ryan turned around sharply and glared at Ivy. He questioned, "Why didn't you tell me you were meeting my father to discuss the engagement? I told you it was postponed but you went behind my back and met my father without my consent!" 1/3 Chapter 44- Found a way

"I'm sorry, Ryan. I didn't know that your father had planned a lunch meeting with me... he just called me to meet him and I didn't have time to tell you. I actually thought it was you who arranged the meeting since I had asked last time," Ivy explained, her eyes watering with

tears.

Ryan looked at lvy, his eyebrows creasing... she seemed to be the same woman he had known all this while. Innocent, kind and sensible. But why did he doubt her words?

Ever since she lied and plagiarised Lora's work, his trust for her crumbled like the earth under a weak hill.

Seeing that Ryan didn't say anything, Ivy added, "You have to believe me, Ryan. I had no idea your father had planned this. If I did, I would have let you know."

The truth was that Ivy was the one who contacted Ryan's stepmother and asked her to convince his father for this meeting. After Lora offered to find an expert doctor to treat her legs, Ivy became angry and developed a sense of crisis.

She needed to marry Ryan as soon as possible. Before he realised who Lora really was, she needed to make him hers permanently.

It wasn't hard to convince Ryan's stepmother and stepsister after promising them huge benefits if they urged Ryan to quickly hold the engagement ceremony. However, Ivy didn't expect her perfect plan to fall through.

She looked up at Ryan and tears rolled down her cheeks. "I was just so happy that your father contacted me. It showed that he supported our relationship despite me being stuck in this wheelchair, so I didn't hesitate and agreed to meet him." Ryan froze at Ivy's words. He gulped, trying to swallow the lump of guilt that was lodged in his throat.

Sighing, he remarked, "It's hard to believe you nowadays, Ivy. I can't tell when you're telling the truth or when you're lying."

"I'll never lie to you again, Ryan. I learnt my lesson. I don't like it when you're angry at me..." Ivy responded, squeezing out more tears.

Ryan frowned. He didn't want to continue this conversation, so he offered, "Let me take you home."

Ivy smiled mentally. As long as she knew Ryan's weakness, he would always be wrapped around her finger.

A little while later, Ryan had just dropped Ivy off at home when he called his best buddy, Adan Nicholson.

"Bro, how far with the investigation? Have you found anything about Lora's hospitalisation?" Ryan asked.

"Unfortunately, no. I haven't found anything..." Adan replied on the phone.

Ryan pinched the bridge of his nose. He remarked, "The harder it is to find information about Lora, the more interested I am in finding out. I need to know what she's hiding."

On the other side of the phone, Adan glanced at the woman who was shooting an ad in one of his stores.

He smirked, glancing at Bianca with interest before saying, "I've found a more direct and interesting way to investigate, bro."